Iconic Tour

Certain visuals are so recognizable that they symbolize a city, country, film, era, person, event or emotion. Here is a small sample of icons. There are lots more iconic locations around the world that are on my bucket list.

The large concrete shells of the Sydney Opera House are as graceful and free flowing as the sailboats floating in the harbour. This landmark performing arts center opened in 1973 on Bennelong Point. The famous venue hosts the city’s orchestra, theater, ballet and opera. It became iconic for the annual fireworks display watched on television by over a billion people who celebrate the coming of each new year.

The majestic Christ the Redeemer statue stands atop the 2,300 foot Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. This Jesus Christ figure has outstretched arms symbolizing peace. It was made from sandstone and concrete in 1931 and is the world’s tallest Art Deco statue at 124 feet. Although you can travel through the Tijuca Forest National Park for a close inspection, this icon of Brazil can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.

This face needs no introduction. You will love introducing yourself to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Created by Walt Disney in the 1928 cartoon “Steamboat Wille,” his appearance evolved for 12 years before becoming the smiling, four-fingered and lovable character with circular ears. Walt also gave Mickey his high-pitched voice. But don’t expect the character to talk at the theme park.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge is unquestionably the most recognizable suspension bridge in the world. Since 1937, most people walked along Crissy Field near Fort Point in Presidio park to get this view. Or they drove, walked or rode a bike across the nearly 9,000 foot length. But in 2012 the Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion opened. It offers a splendid observation area, bike and walking paths plus educational exhibits.

If you like penguins, you will love seeing over 63,000 breeding pairs on Magdalena Island in southern Chile. In this family portrait, the two birds with grey-blue coloring are chicks. An average of 1.4 chicks per nest survives each year. The adults can live up to 20-25 years and mate for life.

How did the Ming Dynasty build the Great Wall of China over 5,500 miles and it’s still standing after thousands of years and I can’t build a retaining wall that lasts five years? To put the distance into perspective, the U.S. is 3,400 miles at its widest point. This part of the Great Wall is at Juyongguan, also called Juyong Pass, in Beijing, China.

Leadville is noted for its high elevation (over 10,000 feet), the start of Colorado’s Silver Boom and the death of Buffalo Bill Cody. Just after leaving the “Two-Mile-High City’s” historic district and before reaching Malta, you are treated to this picturesque scene. In the background of this abandoned, little red school house is Mount Massive. At 14,428 feet, it is the Rocky Mountains’ second highest peak.

The pyramids of Giza near Cairo, Egypt are a must see. On the left is the Pyramid of Khafre. Also called The Great Pyramid, it is the largest, oldest and only remaining of the Seven Wonders of the World. The pharaoh ruled from 2558 to 2532 BC. In the middle is the 26th century BC Pyramid of Menkaure. The three smaller structures are the Pyramids of the Queens. The meandering camels were trudging home after a long, hot day in the desert.

This four-faced tower was originally called the Clock Tower or St Stephen’s Tower. That changed in 2012 when the Palace of Westminster’s famous feature was renamed Elizabeth Tower to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th anniversary on the throne. Regardless of those official names, it will always remain Big Ben. The clock’s mechanism was cutting-edge technology when it was finished in 1859. However, the speed of its 13 foot pendulum is still regulated by adding or subtracting from a stack of British pennies. Every tourist to London will snap at least one photo of this landmark. Then they are disappointed to learn it requires U.K. citizenship and a signed disclaimer before climbing the 334 stairs to the pinnacle.

As the last of the IllumiNations fireworks bursts over the World Showcase Lagoon, throngs of tired people shuffle towards Epcot’s main gate. Before they go, they are treated to one last look at the theme park’s 518 foot iconic geodesic sphere: a glowing Spaceship Earth.

What started as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair drew harsh criticism from the Parisian elite. But Gustave Eiffel believed his 81 story structure – consisting of over 18,000 pieces – would be as important as the Egyptian pyramids. He was called mad and insane. Today, the famous architect is considered visionary for creating one of the world’s most iconic structures. The Eiffel Tower is shown along with the Pont d’léna Bridge and the Seine from the Avenue de New York.

Numerous events in Martin Luther King’s life are iconic to American history. Many of them are displayed on a 125 foot memorial mural called “Dreams, Visions and Change” in Atlanta, Georgia. The painting, by Louis Delsarte, shows several famous civil rights leaders and figures. The art is in the Peace Plaza near the MLK Visitors’ Center.

This is the world’s most famous Doric temple. The Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena when it was built on a citadel overlooking Athens, Greece. It is one of several archaeological ruins at the Acropolis of Athens. Others include temples and sanctuaries plus two theaters and remnants of other structures. Most of these buildings were constructed during the 5th century BC.

Waikīkī, which means “Spouting Water,” was named for the Kuekaunahi stream that once filled this area with fresh water. This 1.5 mile stretch on O’ahu Island’s south Pacific shore is lined with high-rise hotels, time-shares and condominiums that house all of the international tourists that come for the sandy beach, warm sun, high-end shopping and views of the dormant volcanic mountain called Diamond Head or Lē’ahi.

The Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel is of historical and religious significance to Muslims, Christians and Jews. Built on the Temple Mount in 691 AD, the dome is covered by an aluminum bronze alloy with gold. The greatest significance is inside. The Foundation Stone (the Rock) represents the spiritual joining of Heaven and Earth. This famous landmark is maintained by the Jordanians.

To enjoy the elevated beauty of Florence, drive to the Oltrarno district and then along the five mile, tree-lined boulevard called Viale dei Colli until you reach Piazzale Michelangelo. Michelangelo Square has offered breathtaking, panoramic views since the lookout was built in 1869. Among the landmarks to admire are Cathedral of Florence (right), Palazzo Vecchio Tower (left) and the hills of Settignano and Fiesole.

It took almost two hundred years to construct the white marble Tower of Pisa. It started leaning soon after construction began in 1173. In an attempt to compensate, the upper floors were built so one side is taller than the other. Nearly three hundred steps lead to the top. The finished bell tower stands about 186 feet at the peak and leans over 12 feet.

According to mythology, the twin brothers Romulus and Remus were fathered by Mars, the god of war, but cast into the Tiber River after birth in 771 BC. They were rescued and suckled by a she-wolf, fed by a woodpecker and raised by a shepherd. In 753 BC, they quarreled and Remus was killed. Romulus proceeded to establish a new city on the Palatine Hill and named it Rome. The Capitoline Wolf is the most iconic symbol of this legend. Some claim the statue was created during the 5th century BC. Others believe it dates from the 13th century AD. It is located on the second floor of the Palazzo dei Conservatori which is part of the Capitoline Museums.

The winged lion with his paw on the Bible is a symbol for St. Mark the Evangelist and Venice, Italy. It also represented the Republic of Venice from the 7th century until it was conquered in 1797. The Venetian lion is seen here on St. Mark’s Bell Tower and the Column of Justice. But if you look closely around San Marco Square you will see the iconic image in at least a half dozen other places.

Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured a soldier passionately kissing a woman in a white dress during V-J Day when President Truman announced the end of WWII on August 14, 1945. The photo became iconic after appearing in Life magazine. Several people claimed to be the couple. This sculpture rendition is among the thousands of exhibits in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas.

A popular quote from the 1939 movie “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” This phrase was voted the fourth most famous line in American cinema. Apparently, Dorothy and her Cairn Terrier lived in Wamego, Kansas. This is where the Wizard of Oz museum displays 25,000 artifacts from the movie, including this full-scale replica of the Tin Man.

New York Yankee Babe Ruth will forever be a legend of baseball, America’s favorite pastime. Outside of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is a 120 foot, 68,000 pound replica of The Bambino’s bat. Inside you can see his real 36 inch, 42 ounce bat that earned him the nickname The Sultan of Swat. Babe used it during the 1927 season when he hit 60 home runs. The notches for each homer are visible near the logo.

A jewel of the small, landlocked country of Luxembourg in Western Europe is the Vianden Castle. Built during the Middle Ages, it majestically stands on a promontory ridge above the Our River Valley and the row houses of the town below. The Château de Vianden has all of the features of an iconic castle such as battlements, bastions and towers. Inside is a wonderful historical museum that includes military exhibits such as suits of armor worn by knights.

There are over 150 lighthouses along 6,000 miles of New England’s coast. Ship’s navigation technology has made most of them obsolete. However, they are still busy as beacons to tourists with cameras. Maine has 66 lights. The oldest is Portland Head Light in Williams Park. The 80 foot lighthouse is located in a suburb of Portland called Cape Elizabeth. George Washington commissioned the light in 1787. It began shining four years later. The keeper’s house dates from 1891.

Looking up at the 88 floors of the PETRONAS Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur is awesome. Each tower was the world’s tallest from 1996 until 2004. Menara Berkembar Petronas are still the biggest twin skyscrapers at 1,483 feet with the deepest foundations at 374 feet. The price tag was equally impressive: $1.6 billion. In the center is the Skybridge on the 41st and 42nd floor. If this 558 foot observation deck is not high enough for you, then double down by going up to the 86th floor. The namesake is PETRONAS, an oil and gas company founded in Malaysia and headquartered in Tower One.

The Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez at the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. At this junction is the impressive El Arco. The Arch is one of several mammoth rock formations at the Land’s End. El Finisterra (in Spanish) is an appropriate name because the next geography directly south is Antarctica. So, get a boat or water taxi from the nearby marina, watch the passing dolphins during the short trip and then take the hint from the sunning sea lions by enhancing your tan on Playa del Amour (Lover’s Beach).

Chichen Itza is the most famous of the nearly 4,400 Mayan ruins across Mesoamerica. The former city began in the 7th century during the Late Classic period. Within three hundred years, it expanded to about 15 square miles and had a peak population of 300,000. For the next 200 years, it was influenced by the Itza civilization. After they were outcast in 1221, the site was mostly abandoned. Today, less than one third of the acreage has been excavated. Despite its remote location on the Yucatán Peninsula about a 2.5 hour drive from Cancun, Chichen Itza is a major tourist attraction. One look at its iconic El Castillo shows why it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This pride of Mexico is also among the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The prescription for a perfect afternoon: sit on a gorgeous beach in a lounge chair under a palm tree while staring at the ocean waves with a cold beverage at your side. There are no known harmful side effects except occasional sunburn. So, repeat as necessary. Fill the prescription at Costa Maya, Mexico, or the tropical getaway of your choice.

The symbol of St. Louis, Missouri, is the Gateway Arch. The landmark is a 630 foot tall, shining ribbon of steel. The world’s tallest arch has 1,076 steps. It is easier to take the tram to the top. Although Franklin D. Roosevelt approved partial funding in 1934, the keystone was not placed until 1965. When it was finished in 1968, Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the honors of dedicating it during an opening ceremony. The $13.5 million project gets its name from the Mississippi River’s location as the gateway to the west.

Children Dike is the Dutch translation for Kinderdijk, Netherlands where 19 polder windmills were built beginning in 1740. This is also where the “Cat and the Cradle” legend originated when a cat saved a baby from drowning during a 1421 flood. Today, the function of these picturesque landmarks has been replaced by 2,000 wind turbines scattered across Holland.

This diamond-shaped, 25 foot neon sign is actually in the town of Paradise, Nevada, but has been welcoming tourists to fabulous Las Vegas since 1959. And the numbers are fabulous: in 2012, nearly 40 million visitors generated $17 billion in gaming revenues. No wonder the back of the sign reads, “Come Back Soon.”

In the middle of New York Harbor is an iconic image of the 238 BC Roman goddess named Libertas. Everyone calls her the Statue of Liberty. The gift from France in 1886 was sculpted by Frédéric Bartholdi. Gustave Eiffel created the framework. The crowned and robed figure stands 351 feet on Liberty Island. She welcomed more than 12 million immigrants as they were processed at Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954. They were the ancestors of one-third of today’s U.S. population. She holds a tablet with the date July 4, 1776. Approximately four million people visit her each year.

The bright neon signs, flashing ads, street performers, careening cabs, musical productions and guarding police at Times Square in Midtown are only a part of the menagerie. About 40 million people annually make the pilgrimage to the “Center of the Universe.” In 1872, it was called Longacre Square. When the New York Times became a major tenant in 1904, the area adopted the newspaper’s name. Once considered a prime location, it deteriorated during the Great Depression through the mid-1990s. Then, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani cleared out the porn theaters and helped restore the Broadway ones. This has been the location of countless parades and movies. The most famous event since 1907 is the New Year’s Eve ball drop.

The Rolling Stones became a vital part of the British Invasion in the 1960s. They helped reshape music for over 50 years. Their contributions to popular music, along with numerous other iconic musicians, are brilliantly exhibited in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. This “Tongue and Lip Design” logo used to greet visitors at the front door. John Pasche designed it in 1971 for the “Sticky Fingers” album.

Germany has the dubious honor of having the world’s first sex shop in 1962. For decades, they proliferated and became a blight with their brazen neon signs, darkened windows and back alley entrances. However, laws, the Internet and changing social standards have forced the XXX bookstore to diminish and evolve but the retail concept will probably never go away.

The Liberty Bell once hung in the tower of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It cracked the first time it was rung in 1752. Although it has come to symbolize the events of July 4, 1776, historians debate whether it actually rang that day. In 1893, President Harrison joked the bell was made in England but had to be recast in America before it could proclaim our right of self-government. Even after several recastings, it cracked again around 1846. The inscription “Liberty” has become associated with American freedom. However, the word actually came from an abolitionist effort to free slaves in 1835.

The Auschwitz concentration camps in Poland are one of the darkest sides of the Holocaust. At its peak in 1944, they housed about 135,000 prisoners. Auschwitz I was the largest and responsible for 70,000 deaths. The sign above the main gates still reads in German: “Work Makes Freedom.” The camp contains 16 brick buildings that were guarded by towers, barbed wire and warning signs painted with skulls and crossbones called Totenkopf in German.

Saint Basil’s Cathedral anchoring the south end of Red Square was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in 1554 and finished in 1561. The iconic landmark consists of eight brick churches in perfect symmetry around the ninth tallest one. The Cathedral of Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat is stunning with its towers, scales, arches and onion domes. Originally all white, the rainbow of colors was added in 1860. Thankfully, this former Russian Orthodox church survived attempted demolition by Napoleon in 1812 and Joseph Stalin in 1936.

Grand Cascade features 64 fountains, 37 Romanesque sculptures, 16 side vases, 29 bas-reliefs plus statues of dolphins, lions, ducks, turtles and frogs. The original collection totaled 225 pieces by six sculptors. The artworks were initially constructed with lead. They were replaced by gilded bronze versions nearly a century later. Prior to the German occupation in 1941, many of the statues were buried around the property. Unfortunately, most of those left unprotected were destroyed or stolen. This exquisite ensemble was painstakingly reproduced from 1947 through 1950. The Grand Cascade is worthy of countless superlatives.

Melion is a lion with a fish’s tail representing Singapore’s origins as a fishing town plus its early name which meant lion city. The 28 foot statue spews water into Marina Bay near the financial and commercial district. Soon after its creation in 1972, this 70 ton statue of cement and porcelain symbolized Singapore. This country is only the size of San Francisco yet has the world’s highest GDP, including 188,000 millionaire households or 17% of its five million residents.

The cost of carving four, 60 foot president heads into Mount Rushmore from 1927 until 1941 was $10,000 shy of one million. This ambitious monument would have cost more if the original plans had been implemented to sculpture the bi-partisan foursome from the waist up. Susan B. Anthony almost joined this boys’ club. However, the congressional approval was overridden in 1937.

On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy’s limousine drove slowly down Elm Street in Dealey Plaza. At 12:30 P.M., an Italian Carcano, bolt-action rifle emerged from the sixth-floor window (upper right corner) of the Texas School Book Depository on the left. Shots were fired. The bullets wounded Governor Connally and killed the 35th President of the United States. The photo is taken from the spot of the first impact.

The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, began as a missionary in 1724 and ended in 1836 as an iconic symbol of courage. During the Texas Revolution, a group of Texians and Tejano Indians won the fort from Mexicans. However, this militia was no match against Santa Anna’s army during a 13 day battle. The fort’s commander, William Travis, wrote in a letter titled Victory or Death, “I shall never surrender or retreat.” Unfortunately, he, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett and 200 others were killed. Perhaps that is Travis’ shadowy figure on the right still guarding the Alamo.

With only five months left before John F. Kennedy’s deadline to land a man on the moon, Neil Armstrong declared on July 20, 1969, “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Early the next morning, after descending a nine-rung ladder, he said, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Near the historic MOCR2 (Mission Control Room) at Johnson Space Center in Webster, Texas, is this portrait of the Apollo 11 crew: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin.

Two previous churches were built on the site of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. They were destroyed in 404 and 532 AD. The current masterpiece has a 185 foot dome. Construction required 10,000 workers and materials from quarries in Turkey, Syria, Egypt and Ephesus. When finished in 537, it was the world’s largest cathedral. 900 years later, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople and converted the Byzantine cathedral into an Islamic mosque. In 1934, Hagia Sophia became a museum. Touring this landmark is an incredible excursion.

The iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai is shaped like a sailboat or ship’s mask, is 66 floors tall and built on a man-made island. This seven-star rated hotel is frequently voted the most luxurious in the world. Amenities include a personal butler, chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce and a 24-carat gold iPad to serve as a “virtual concierge.” On Jumeirah Beach, the dress code is considerably different than the typical modesty around Dubai.

When I had a draft card in my wallet during the early 70s, North Vietnam’s President was Ho Chi Minh and a red flag with a yellow star represented the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. They were the enemy. This memorial sits in the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, where U.S. helicopters lifted off the roof during the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. It was the end of the Vietnam War during which nearly 60,000 from my generation were killed or missing and another 303,000 were wounded.

The most iconic statue of the 16th U.S. President was sculpted from 1916 to 1920 by Daniel French and sits in the Lincoln Memorial. The white marble sculpture is 19 by 19 feet. Surrounding this imposing figure are inscriptions from the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s second inaugural speech. An interesting debate is whether his hands form the initials “A” and “L” in sign language. Lincoln has a wonderful view of the Washington Memorial and the U.S. Capitol from across the Reflecting Pool.

The earliest architectural dome was made with mammoth tusks in 1900 BC. Since then, many cultures have created religious and government domes. Famous ones include the Panthéon in Paris, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. Michelangelo designed the world’s tallest dome of 448 feet at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. In comparison, the U. S. Capitol’s Corinthian dome stands 288 feet. On top is a 19 foot Statue of Freedom. The Neoclassical appearance of the Nation’s Capitol is replicated in the design of many government buildings around Washington, D. C.

During medieval times, barbers were full service: they cut hair, performed surgery, blood let to cure diseases and extracted teeth. The red, white and blue pole represents these skills. Through the 1960s, the spinning barber pole was an iconic symbol. Today, in small towns like Hayward, Wisconsin, it is a quaint storefront reminder of a bygone era. Grey’s Barber Shop claims to have been cutting hair for over 120 years.

When you see this puppy face, is your immediate reaction, “Oh, isn’t he cute?” I thought so too when he posed for me outside a restaurant in Jackson, Wyoming. But that first impression has evolved into disdain for him and humility for me. The disdain occurred because regardless of how many of my world photos I show people, they always love this one the best. The humility occurs from his giant face staring above my computer screen to remind me that regardless of how many world photos I take, people will always love the ones of puppies and babies. I hope this puppy chews shoes and wets on the kitchen floor.

Welcome! Encircle Photos is your free travel resource for finding top places to see worldwide. This visual library includes travel guides showing major landmarks with descriptions, maps and addresses. Also explore the world daily with free emails and on Facebook. They feature a different city a week with one photo a day. Let travel photographer Dick Ebert show you the world!